Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Angerona was a Roman goddess who relieved people from pain, sorrow, and distress. Known as the goddess of silence during cosmic crises, she protected Rome from enemies.
There is not much information about Angerona, and she is sometimes compared to Feronia, another Roman goddess who granted freedom to enslaved people.
Angerona's functions appear to have been many. Based on ancient sources, Angerona guarded the actual name of Rome, but there is some discussion as to what this original name might have been. It has been suggested that ancient Romans called their city Sorania, Hirpa, or Amor – the last name spelled backward is Roma.
The goddess had her festival, Divalia (Angeronalia), celebrated on December 21. It was a time when Romans made sacrifices to the goddess Angerona hoping she could drive away all sorrows and chagrins of life. According to an ancient myth, she could also provide a remedy against the disease "angina" that affected animals and people.
The reason Angerona was celebrated in December seems to connect her to the yearly crisis of the winter days. During those dark winter days, people experienced pain and anguish caused by the lack of light and the cold.
Was Goddess Angerona Requested Silence - If So, Why?
In the temple of Volupia near the Porta Romanula, not far from the Forum goddess, Angerona was represented with her mouth bound and sealed up. The Roman goddess of silence has also been depicted holding a finger to her mouth.
The gesture has been interpreted in various ways. One possible explanation is that Angerona was requesting silence. Another option is that she told people to be careful and not reveal secrets about ancient Rome. Some scholars think it was a symbolical suppression of cries of anguish because such utterances were considered unlucky omens.
According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a she-wolf. Credit: Public Domain
Silence can heal and give humans an opportunity for self-examination that should lead to a clear, unbiased view of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Since Angerona was also a goddess of wisdom, it's possible she requested silence not because any secrets must be protected. It may have been her way of encouraging self-reflection.
Ancient Romans knew the goddess Angerona could be dangerous. Although she could deliver people from sorrow, troubles, and agony, she could also bring about just as much anguish and pain. She did it if she felt it was necessary.
Today, Angerona is not as famous as the goddess Athena, but in ancient times, she certainly held a significant role in Rome, and sacrifices were regularly made to her.
Updated on March 24, 2024
Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
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